PRISHTINA, 20 SEPTEMBER 1993

12 PERSONS ARRESTED FOR ARMS TRAFFICKING IN PRIZREN

Sunday's Belgrade-based daily "Borba", referring to Tanjug news agency, reported that the Serbian police arrested last week in Prizren 12 persons under charges of arms trafficking. According to Ismet Murati, Public Prosecutor of the Municipal Court in Prizren, the accused Petar Ristic and Fatmir Kabashi are the main suspected dealers, so that they together with 10 others are to face charges for arms trafficking and smuggling. Borba also reports that until now the police has allegedly found three machine-guns, one riffle and six revolvers and they were brought from Belgrade.

ALBANIAN VICTIM LABELLED "TERRORIST" BY THE SERBIAN PRESS

Last saturday morning, the Serbian police killed Mehdi Maksuti (22) in Podujeva. According to the testimonies of the employees of the Surgery Clinic in Prishtina, Mehdi Maksuti, a resident of the Shtedim village of Podujeva, died of wounds inflicted on him by fire arms. Sources said the late Mehdi Maksuti was travelling together with one of his brothers when a four-manned Serbian police patrol opened fire at the "Fiat" car, leaving Mehdi badly wounded. It has been reported that a Serb police unit had before noon searched the home of the late Mehdi Maksuti at his village. The police has reportedly confiscated two cars, a "Fiat 132" and a "BMW" and other home implements, as well as a revolver.Ahmet Maksuti (30) and Afrim Maksuti (24), brothers to the late Mehdi, are reported arrested. The LDK branch in Podujeva denounced what it calls yet another "staged killing", denying reports from the Serbian press (which are close to the Serbian police) that Albanian youths had allegedly shot at the police. "These are fab

rications, similar to ones related to earlier case", the LDK said. Serbian mass media and press have qualified the late Mehdi Maksuti "an Albanian terrorist who was involved in yet another terrorist act". The local Serbian daily "Jedinstvo" says Albanian terrorists opened fire from an ambush. According to Jedinstvo, one of the unidentified assaulters (perhaps referring to Mehdi Maksuti) was shot back by the police. Serbian police and mass media have always laid the blame with the Albanians in cases when Albanians themselves were the victims, and moreover, like in this case, when shot at from behind.

THREE ALBANIAN YOUTHS ARRESTED AND ROBBED BY THE SERBIAN POLICE

A few days ago, the Serbian police arrested Enver Hasani (19), Arsim Mehmeti (22) and Xhavit Stojku (32) in Kacanik. They were on their way home to Mitrovica. All three work in the Republic of Croatia as bakers. After a thorough check, the police arrested them and confiscated DEM 2000. They were later reported taken to Leskove (southern Serbia) where they were kept in prison for 22 days.

LDK sources from Mitrovica say that the police also tore off the passports of Enver Hasani, Arsim Mehmeti, and Xhavit Stojku. They were later released from prison, but the police have continuously been looking for Enver Hasani at his home. Reasons for their arrest have not been made known.

POLICE CHASES ALBANIAN FORMER ARMY OFFICERS

The Serbian police has recently launched a campaign against former Albanian officers at the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) and the employees of what was called Territorial Defense. Several such cases have been reported during the last week, while some other cases are reported to have taken place during the last weekend. Thus, on Friday, the police arrested in Sllatina e Vogel of Fushe Kosova Ibush Kelmendi, former Commander-in Chief of the Municipal Territorial Defense in Prishtina, and Halit Rama from the Matican village of Prishtina, a former employee with the same institution. Mr.Kelmendi and Mr.Rama are reported still in custody. Like wise, the Serbian police arrested Friday in Prishtina Skender Ibishi, an activist with an LDK branch in Kosova's capital. Mr.Ibishi has completed studies on military sciences.

SERBAIN POLICE OBSTRUCTS ELECTION PROCESS WITHIN LDK

LDK reports that the Serbian police has been obstructing the ongoing elections within the Democratic League of Kosova, the most influential party in Kosova. LDK says the Serbian police dispersed yesterday (Sunday) an election indoors meeting at the Gllamnik village of Podujeva. The police maltreated Enver Veliu, who was participant at one of the election comissions. His house was reported raided on by the police, too.

KOSOVA INFORMATION CENTER